US Returns Legacy Of The Tang Dynasty Worth IDR 51 Billion To China

Palace Museum/UNSPLASH/ZQ Lee

JAKARTA - The United States government returned two ancient relics from the Northern Wei Dynasty and the Tang Dynasty (386-907 AD) whose selling value was estimated at 3.5 million US dollars or around Rp. 51.7 billion to the Chinese government.

China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) explained that the return of ancient relics in the form of carvings used as burial mats was carried out at an event in New York, USA, on Tuesday (9/5).

The ceremony for handing over the historic object was authorized by China's National Cultural Heritage Agency (NCHA), the Chinese Consulate General in New York, and the Manhattan District Attorney's Office.

The US side handed over two ancient objects that were illegally brought and then confiscated them, back to the Chinese side.

"This is the fifth time cultural heritage object has been returned to China from a US government agency through cooperation in the field of cultural heritage in recent years," said MFA spokesman Wang Wenbin as quoted by ANTARA, Friday, May 12.

According to him, the Chinese government is committed to expanding cooperation between governments in fighting and preventing the smuggling of cultural relics.

"We are ready to work closely with the US and other countries to improve efforts to preserve the world's cultural heritage," Wang said.

The two carves are part of a stone burial platform that supports the coffin in the cemetery.

"Culturally, the two stones are worth nearly US$3.5 million in accordance with the high historical, scientific and artistic values," China's local media wrote.